British Isles Beach Track Info

Before World War 2, there were many events held on beaches due to the difficulty in closing public roads for circuits, and the limited number of permanent venues such as Donington Park and Brooklands. This page hopes to detail these tracks - at present I have little information, so I have grouped all the information onto one page.

Filey

Located in Yorkshire, used from 1936.

Magilligan Strand

A 3 mile course near Dublin used in 1907 and 1909.

Rosbeigh Strand

Used in 1908. Event won by F.G.Cundy in a Napier.

Rosslare Strand

A 4 mile course near Dublin used in 1913.

Velvet Strand

Near Dublin, first used in 1904. During the meeting MacDonald in a Napier beat Charles Rolls in a Mors over a standing-start mile course.

Birkdale Sands, Southport

Held an annual Southport 100 event. In 1926 the circuit featured S-bends for the first time in an extended race, and Jackson won the 50 mile race in a Sunbeam. The 1929 Southport 100 (actually 91 miles) was won by T.Thistlethwayte in a Mercedes-Benz 28/250, and the 1930 Southport 100 was won by T.V.G.Selby in a Bugatti.

Brean Sands, Burnham

Used on the 18th August 1923.

Pendine Sands

Used for Land Speed Record attempts. Also held motorcycle races until the 1950s.

Porthcawl Sands

Used for speed trials in 1922 over a mile length.

Redcar

St.Andrews

The beach by the famous golf course was used in 1935 for motorbike races. It was used in 1949 and 1950 for car races over a one mile course.

St.Helier

Regular car and motorcycle races are held on the beach at St.Aubin's Bay.

Saltburn

First used in 1906, events took place most years until interrupted by World War I. They recommenced in July 1920 until 1938.

Skegness

Used in 1906 and 1923.

Southport Sands

Used for speed trials in 1922. Held car races up until the 1950s, but today most of the sand has disappeared, possibly due to dredging for the Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal.

Vazon Bay, Guernsey

Used in the 1950's & 1960's. Still in use today for MSA car races.

Waterloo Sands, Wallasey

Used in 1923.

Weston-super-Mare

Used in the early 1900s century, again in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Since the late 1980s it has held an annual Autocross event.